In 1978, Kim “Howard” Johnson ran away to join the circus—Monty Python’s Flying Circus, that is. The Pythons converged on Tunisia to film their timeless classic, Life of Brian, and Howard found himself in the thick of it, doubling for nearly all the Pythons, playing more roles in the film than John Cleese, and managing to ruin only one shot. He became the unit journalist, substitute still photographer, Roman soldier, peasant, Biggus Dickus’s double, near-stalker, and, ultimately, friend and confidant of the comedy legends. He also kept a detailed journal of what he saw and heard, on set and off, throughout those six weeks.

The result is a unique eyewitness account that reveals the Pythons at work and at play in a way that nothing else written about them could do. Now, for the first time ever, the inside story of the making of the film is revealed through the fly-on-the-castle-wall perspective. Even the most die-hard fans will get a fresh take on the comedy greats through some never-before-revealed nuggets of Python brilliance: what John Cleese offered to exchange for sun tan lotion; Terry Jones directing in drag; Michael Palin’s secret to playing revolutionaries and peasants; Graham Chapman gets naked; Terry Gilliam gets filthy; Eric Idle haggles; the secret of the Thespo-Squat; Mrs. Pilate; talk of George Harrison; the cake-flinging that jeopardized the production; badminton, impromptu cricket, and erotic frescoes; and the first-ever presentation of “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.”

Here, uncensored, are the legendary Pythons in their prime. It was a period of comedy history that will never be duplicated, and Monty Python’s Tunisian Holiday captures the wit, the genius, and the sheer silliness of the six men that comprised Python.

Download and start listening now!

be2u

Quotes & Awards

“One of the finest and most accurate records of the making of the film that I have ever read. I just wished I could remember what actually went on then.”

Terry Jones

Listener Opinions

David Macpherson | 12/15/2013

" Fo a behind the scenes look at a movie, this was a decent one. The author schlepps across the world to be in the filming of Life of Brian. The only thing I wished the book addressed was why it took him nearly 30 years to go through his material and write the bloody book. "

Mer | 11/18/2013

" Wow, the group was just as comical and ad lib off-camera as they were on. "Howard" really puts you there in the action. I listened to the book and the narrator really helped by putting the appropriate accent to the person. "

Paul Werner | 6/8/2013

" Okay book. memoir of filming of Life of Brian. "

Tim | 4/18/2013

" If you want to find out more about Monty Pyhton and behind the scenes at the filming of "the life of Brian", heres a really good book. "

Christopher | 2/13/2013

" This is a not a great book, but it is a fly on the wall perspective of the boys at work - no matter that the fly is not the best story teller in the world. More like a court reporter/fanboy. "

Dennis | 12/31/2011

" A great look at the behind the scenes of the filiming of "Monty Python's Life of Brian". Now I need to watch the film again to see if I can spot "Kim" in all the scenes in which he appeared. "

Mikki | 10/11/2011

" I guess I should just stick to the Python movies and not ready a 3rd party's diaries about the making-of said movie. YAWN-fest. "

Andy | 7/18/2011

" Probably better to listen to the audio version of this book, as I did, to enjoy it. It's a bit fluffy, but does put the listener into the action of making this great MP film, and supplies a few tidbits of info (on missing scenes, etc) along the way. "

Jessraquel | 7/3/2011

" A must read for all Monty Python fans. "

Lisa | 5/31/2011

" Unfortunately, after the foreword there were few laughs during this bland diary of the making of Life Of Brian. So disappointed. I really wanted to love this book. "

Beth | 3/19/2011

" I have to agree with other reviewers. Boring, boring, boring. "

Paul | 12/28/2010

" Okay book. memoir of filming of Life of Brian.
"

Lisa | 11/30/2010

" Unfortunately, after the foreword there were few laughs during this bland diary of the making of Life Of Brian. So disappointed. I really wanted to love this book.
"

Tim | 9/10/2010

" If you want to find out more about Monty Pyhton and behind the scenes at the filming of "the life of Brian", heres a really good book.
"

Beth | 5/15/2010

" I have to agree with other reviewers. Boring, boring, boring.
"

Mer | 9/12/2009

" Wow, the group was just as comical and ad lib off-camera as they were on. "Howard" really puts you there in the action. I listened to the book and the narrator really helped by putting the appropriate accent to the person.
"

Dennis | 1/6/2009

" A great look at the behind the scenes of the filiming of "Monty Python's Life of Brian". Now I need to watch the film again to see if I can spot "Kim" in all the scenes in which he appeared.
"

Christopher | 12/4/2008

" This is a not a great book, but it is a fly on the wall perspective of the boys at work - no matter that the fly is not the best story teller in the world. More like a court reporter/fanboy.
"

About the Author

Kim “Howard” Johnson is the author of Monty Python’s Tunisian Holiday: My Life with Brian, The Funniest One in the Room: the Lives and Legends of Del Close, Superman: True Brit, (a graphic novel co-authored with John Cleese), along several other books, only a few of which have to do with Monty Python. He has also been a screenwriter, an award-winning newspaper writer, marketing director for a comic book company, actor, theater producer, and founding member of The Baron’s Barracudas, the first house team of Chicago’s iO Theatre. Married to Laurie Bradach, they have one son, Morgan, and two boxers.

About the Narrators

Johnny Heller, a two-time winner of the prestigious Audie Award, was named a top voice of 2008 and 2009 and selected as one of the Top 50 Narrators of the Twentieth Century by AudioFile magazine. His adult and children’s book narrations have earned him thirty-five AudioFile Earphones Awards.

Simon Vance (a.k.a. Robert Whitfield) is an award-winning actor and an AudioFile Golden Voice with fifty-eight Earphones Awards. He has won thirteen prestigious Audie Awards and was Booklist’s very first Voice of Choice in 2008. He has narrated more than eight hundred audiobooks over almost thirty years, beginning when he was a radio newsreader for the BBC in London.

[ShoppingCartItemsAddedOnMerge] audiobook(s) were left in your cart from a previous visit, and saved to your account for your convenience. You may view or remove these audiobooks on the shopping cart page.